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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-07-24-HSC-min.pdf Minutes Human Services Committee July 24 1996 Present: Barbara Ciampa, candidate; Helen Cravis, candidate; Julie Fenn; Roz Gittleman; Eva Glick; Donna Hooper, Co-Chair; Jeanne Luongo; Rick Safford; Kim Walford, Salvation Army Jolley Anne Weinstock, Co-Chair; Bill Deveney evaluator 1. Salvation Army The Salvation Army funding for Lexington residents had originally been handled by requesting funding through the Waltham office. Funding is now requested through Kim Walford, regional coordinator. She will eventually allocate a certain amount of funds each year to Lexington once a unit has been created. Ms. Walford is responsible for covering 52 cities and towns, gets volunteers to assist in emergency and crisis situations (rent in arrears, fuel, electricity). For Lexington to have its own unit with Steve Baran as coordinator, it will be necessary to have a Chairman, Treasurer and Welfare Secretary The unit uses a voucher system to pay vendors with a pre-arranged budget ($1,500 $3,000) for each fiscal year beginning in September. Steve noted that the funding from the Salvation Army will supplement the Human Services Fund. Through a 'kettle coordinator" Lexington will be expected to do Christmas fundraising. Kettle workers are usually clients (Stoneham has involved students up to age 15; adults go with them). The Army also has a single mother shelter in Cambridge, a camp for children ages 7 to 12, and a camp for seniors ($145 for 6 days). 2. Bill Deveney, evaluation Bill Deveney reported on the evaluation he had conducted for RePlace. He complimented Joan Abrahams for implementing a variety of programs but questioned whether the number of programs RePlace was trying to do was feasible with only 2.5 FTE staff. Considering they are providing services to 1,300 elementary school students through CAPP and counseling 50 families, one would expect them to be overwhelmed. 'They are trying to be all things to all people rather than doing a few things well. CAPP (Child Assault Prevention Program): Parents and teachers thought highly of the CAPP program, but there was no strict evidence that kids were able to protect themselves better nor were there a lot of parents and teachers participating this past year. In 1994, 180 parents participated. At that time, 3/4 of the children participating said they talked with their parents about the issues raised in the program. Even if the program is effective, is it still responding to a significant problem. CAPP was born in 1984 at a time when there was a lot of anxiety about kids' safety Joan Abrahams responded that the program was now mainly concerned about peer assault and bullying with an emphasis on children's rights. Outreach: Outreach programs were least successful. RePlace failed to implement a drop-in center, smoking cessation, sexual abuse and outward bound groups. Bill asked if such programs would be sufficiently intense, even if they were implemented, considering the nature of the problems. Further substance abuse programming should be pursued through the School Department's health education program and begun in the second or third grade. Moreover, substance abuse treatment should be mandated to be effective and provided by licensed drug counselors. They should not be set up for failure by being made a part of a voluntary outreach program. Counseling: As to counseling, Bill suggested that it be restricted to only kids without health insurance. Services could be maximized by seeing students in groups. O Human Services Committee Minutes July 24, 1996 Page 2 Quality assurance and utilization review: Quality assurance and utilization review were found to be in place through the FY '96 parent agency Children's Behavioral Health Care (CBHC). Peer leadership which will be part of the Town contract in FY '97 with Wayside Youth and Family Support Network, Inc. Solves the "best and the brightest. Bill Deveney although not evaluating this program, did have a meeting with the peer leaders and was well impressed. Peer leadership involvement at the middle school level is a good idea. The hot line which is an aspect of outreach to be implemented in FY '97 is underutilized and of questionable usefulness. 3. Joan Abrahams Joan Abrahams commented that the high school would have its own counselor in he future but continue to make referrals in RePlace. RePlace would continue to go into Clark Junior High School. Diamond has so far been resistant to getting involved. 4. RePlace contract It was agreed to recommend the RePlace contract for the Town Manager's signature with the understanding that there be quantitative objectives formulated for programs and that a six-month report be furnished to expedite planning for the new year. RePlace plans to make poral inroads on a projected deficit of$14,850 through state contracts, seeking federal funding, and by awing the Director's time to 85% (taking part of Friday off). The partnership with Waygde will permit Medicaid, Blue Cross and Harvard Community Health Plan health insurance billing. RePlace will consult with rho Human Services Committee on any programmatic changes. 5. Other Revisions in the Town s lawn services policy statement, and charge from the Board of Selectmen, need to be ratified by the Committee and sent on to the Selectmen for approval. Steve Baran recommended that the policy statement be reviewed to see whether its thrust was already covered in the Charge. The Committee will have three openings to be filled in September since Donna Hooper and Jeanne Luongo will not seek reappointment while a third vacancy resulting from Eva Havas' resignation has never been filled.